Jorge Luis Garcell Santana. Holguín, June 19, 1971.

Guitarist. He graduated on 1995 a Diplomado from Superior Institute of Arts at Master Jesús Ortega's class. He also received classes from Masters Rubén González, Miguel Bonachea and Efraín Amador, among others. Jorge assisted the masterful classes from Marcos Socías of Spain, Japanese S. Fukuda and Cuban Leo Brouwer.

As member of ''Ensemble de Guitarras de la Habana'', he recorded twice tackling the Cuban contemporary music.
He has been teaching at National School of Music, serving also as Head of the Staff of Cords at ''Guillermo Tomás'' Conservatoire, being in charge, in addition, of the Guitar Department at ''Manuel Saumell'' School in Habana.
As soloist of guitar, he has performed at different music halls in Cuba, citing also concerts on radio and TV programs. Professor of Middle Level from ''Guillermo Tomás'' Conservatoire, making his early forays in popular music.

Joining graduated musicians from Superior Institute of Art, he founded ''Contrastes'' Quartet on 1999, hybrid of Cuban and Latin American classic and popular music, elaborated with guitar and percussion elements.

With ''Contrastes'' he recorded two CDs: ''Complicidad'' including Carlos Puebla unpublished boleros and ''Sentimientos Encontrados'' featuring Mexican troubadour Jesús Domínguez via Abdala Studios and PM Records respectively.

Jorge also has performed at Superior Conservatoire of Music from Bakú, Azervaijam; Shakespeare Conservatoire from D.F; Casa de las Esculturas in Xalapa, Mexico; Cultural Center of Tondela and Auditorium from Congress Center in Estoril Lisboa, Portugal.

He is member of Musician Association from National Union of Writers and Artists (UNEAC) belonging to National Center of Concert Music, sponsor for all tours he has made around the entire country.

His repertoire is including works from outstanding composers for guitar such as F. Tarrega, M. M. Ponce, A. B. Mangoré, J. Rodrigo and Leo Brouwer, among others.

Prizes:
First Prize and Special Prize for the interpretation of Cuban Music at Contest for students of music ''Amadeo Roldán'' on 1984, 1988 and 1990.
Winner also of Special Prize for the interpretation of a Renaissance-style piece penned by a Cuban composer at Guitar Contest, Habana, 1994.


Courtesy of Amadeo Roldán Theater. January/2004.